Ritewing Zephyr 1st FPV flight

Before you watch the video, please read!

The first flight of the Zephyr in FPV mode was a success...well, sort of.
I want to say that I am 100% satisfied in how the Zephyr flies. With the folding prop, it glides so well and flies extremely slow when I want it to, yet has enough speed and thrust to climb out effortlessly and fly straight at a decent clip.

Problem 1:
Im getting video lines from the microphone mounted on the VTX.
At first I thought it was cell tower interference because theres a tower within 1/8th of a mile (you can clearly see it in the video) BUT Im 100% positive now that the lines in the screen are microphone/wind induced because when I stalled the plane a few times and ceased forward momentum, the lines vanished. Sure enough, as I picked up speed they came right back. The sound of the wind is so loud, I can even hear the prop. I know its not motor enduced because Ive done ground checks and I get no interference...and in the video its a mix of gliding and powered flight. Should I just turn the gain down? Or shield the mic from the wind?

Problem 2:
The DX201 image is very clear (youtube doesnt do it justice) but Im getting the dreaded contrasting ground/sky issue. I havent adjusted any parameters in the cameras settings. What should I adjust in the camera to make it better for the contrasting ground and sky?
I can adjust:
wide dynamic range
gain
exposure
white balance
shutter speed
and a few others

Nice flight ... that thing tracks really nicely. Not that strange wobbling I've had with the swift when entering and exiting turns. Did you find that when you went into a dive that it would try to come out of it (pull up by itself)? If so, maybe klique can let us know if that's part of the design or if that can be avoided by going a bit nose-heavy? I'd really like for that not to happen and it seemed like that was the case when you were flying ... of course you could have pulled the elevator that's why I'm asking.

Regarding your issue with the sound ... you really need to cover up your microphone. I'd turn the transmitter the other way and "bury" it in the wingtips so that the microphone is completely covered. The wind noise is way too loud, you can't hear the engine at all. You should hear the servos moving, that's when you've got a nice microphone setting.

Can't help you with the DX201, but your "ground effect" isn't half as bad as mine though ... but I did pay $16 for my camera and yours was probably a bit more

Trap, I added a few clicks of up elevon for hands off slow flight and didnt take it out before I dove in. If the control surfaces are neutral, it will only barely begin to pull out at the bottom of the dive.

I will take your advice and turn it around so it faces in, even with the gain turned all the way down, I still only hear wind noise.

I just got back from the field again. looks like "bottom 1/3" wasnt good because the sky was completely blown out. I forgot the programmer so I had to fly it around like that. Im going to change to center spot and try again Sunday...gotta work tomorrow

Heres the 2nd video
More adjustments on the DX201 camera are needed...
Im really having problems understanding the patch antenna. I keep flying out of its path. Granted, I do fly behind it a few times (when it cuts out) but so far, Im really not liking it. I think Im going to buy a rubber duck and use it until I buy an Oracle and use both.
It also cuts out when Im banking around.

oh, and buy the way, Im flying while looking onto the camcorder screen until I get the bugs ironed out

You're also flying overhead a lot ... which is where the signal is worst from the transmitter, no antenna in the world will get you coverage there Maybe the car is harming your range, too ... I wouldn't put it that near to your FPV stuff.

Yea, your right, but Im very nervous about flying out over all the houses and trees around me. I need to find a big field but those are almost non existent in Atlanta. I need to travel about 40 miles out and do some searching.

So, for the time being, do you think if I point the antenna more vertical it will help? Its at about 45 degrees now.

Vova, where is the microphone pickup located on your transmitter? On the board or in the case?
Matt

Actually, going back through the thread I'm pretty sure you were referring to the rx patch antenna being 45 degrees while the video tx antenna is vertical? In this case my bet goes down to 0% I initially thought your tx was pointed 45 degrees forward.

You can try moving your patch antenna fully horizontal (pointed straight up to the sky), maybe that helps? Patch antennas usually outperform 3dbi antennas up close ... I've never had any problems flying behind or around myself with the patch antenna pointed straight up. Anything under half a mile was crystal clear in all directions without re-orientating the patch - except out to the sides, of course.

Ill place the patch vertical, face the mic into the planes wing, and move the car away

Im actually not minding the test-n-tune aspect. Its kinda fun figuring out what works and what doesnt.
I feel a sense of accomplishment having completed my 1st fpv flight today.
Drinking a beer as we type...